Automatic binding machine



March 17, 1964 H. L. BYLAND 3,124,818

AUTOMATIC BINDING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Henry lau el 3 ATTORNEYS March 17, 1964 H. L. BYLAND AUTOMATIC BINDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1962 INVENTOR. Hear Zowe/hZV/ana BY "6 A0RNEYS March 17, 1964 H. BYLAND 3,124,813 I AUTOMATIC BINDING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1962 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Henry lawaf/lyfazd A TTORNE YS March 17, 1964 H. L. BYLAND 3,124,818

AUTOMATIC BINDING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1962 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOK w zf March 17, 1964 H. L. BYLAND AUTOMATIC BINDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 29, 1962 INVENTOR. Henrylawef/Ziyzd M 5 ATORNEYS March 17, 1964 H. L. BYLAND AUTOMATIC BINDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 29, 1962 INVENTOR. flmry [awe/Z3 42! BY 3% 4%' A T RNEYS March 17, 1964 H. L. BYLAND AUTOMATIC BINDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 29, 1962 INVENTOR.

f/ r Zpwaf/By/and A ORNEYS United States Patent Ofi ice 3,124,818 Patented Mar. 17, 1964 3,124,818 AUTOMATIC BINDING MACHINE Henry Lwell Byland, Deerfield, Ill., assignor to General Binding Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. No. 206,215 7 Claims. (Cl. 11-1) This invention relates to an improved apparatus for binding stacks of perforated sheets with a thin non-selfsupporting heat scalable ribbon like plastic material.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for binding a plurality of perforated sheets in a simpler, faster and more economical manner than formerly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple apparatus for automatically binding a plurality of perforated sheets with thin non-self-supporting plastic ribbons fed through the perforations of the sheets.

A still further object of the invention is to improve upon the automatic binding apparatus heretofore known, for binding a stack of perforated sheets with a thin ribbon like plastic material, by providing a series of successively operated mechanisms driven in timed relation with respect to each other for feeding and inserting binding ribbons through the perforations of a plastic binding element and then holding and cutting off the ribbons to length, feeding the ribbons along the perforated edge of the sheets and sealing the depending ends of the ribbons in a series of automatic operations instigated by the insertion of a stack of perforated sheets into the apparatus into a binding position.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings where- FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in end elevation of a binding apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention looking at the apparatus from one end thereof, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in section in order to illustrate certain of the elements for terminating a binding operation;

FIGURE 2 is a wiring diagram illustrating the control circuit for the apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken through the apparatus looking at the apparatus in an opposite direction from FIGURE 1 with certain parts removed in order to illustrate the cut-off position of the apparatus;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along line IV-IV of FIGURE 3, with certain parts removed;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary end View of the apparatus looking at the opposite end of the apparatus from the end shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6' is a fragmentary sectional view looking substantially along line VIVI of FIGURE 3 with certain parts removed;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary detail plan view of the apparatus looking at the apparatus at the angle of travel of the ribbon substantially along line VI'IVII of FIG- URE 8 and showing the heat sealing bars for sealing the ends of the ribbon in the form of loops;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view with certain parts broken away in order to show the heat sealing bars in a heat sealing position; and

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal transverse sectional View taken through the apparatus substantially along line IX IX of FIGURE 8 with certain parts removed.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, I have shown in FIGURE 1 a casing 10 having a base 11 having a drive motor 12 mounted thereon and driving a cam shaft 13 through a chain and sprocket drive 15 for effecting the sequential binding operation of a book or stack of sheets 16 with at least one ribbon 17. The casing 10 has a detachable cover 14 extending along the front and top of said casing and downwardly along the rear thereof for a portion of the height thereof. The cover 14- has an inclined front wall 21 having a book or sheet guide chute 19 extending perpendicular thereto, within said casing.

The drive motor 12 may be a well known form of magnetic braking type of motor in which the brake is applied as the motor is deenergized and vice versa, so need not be shown or described in detail herein.

The stack of sheets or book 16 has rectangular perforations 18 extending along one edge thereof, which is the lower edge thereof, when the stack of sheets is in a binding position in the guide chute 19.

The chute 19 has delivery or terminal end portion 20 within the casing 16, in direct alignment with ribbon folders 23 for clamping one end portion of the ribbons to the book during the operation of severing the ribbons and for folding the ribbons 17 around the edge of the book to depend from the book for heat sealing.

As shown in FIGURES 1, 3, 7 and 9 the chute 19 includes a plate 24 extending for substantially the length of the casing 10 and secured to a transverse bar 25 mounted at its opposite ends in plates 26 and 27, mounted on and extending upwardly of the base 11. The chute 19 also includes a parallel wall 2? spaced from the wall 24 and mounted on a bar 30, mounted at its ends in the plates 26 and 27. The plates 24 and 29 are outwardly flared at their upper ends to accommodate a stack of sheets to be readily inserted in the space therebetween, the spacing between said plates determining the thickness of the stack of sheets to be bound. The spacing between the plates 24 and 29 may be varied as required, and said plates 24 and 29 may be adjustable toward and from each other, to accommodate stacks of sheets of varying thicknesses, in a conventional manner, which is no part of the present invention so is not herein shown or described.

Beneath the robbon folder 23 are two outer stop plates 32, 32 and a central stop plate 33, limiting downward movement of the book or stack of sheets 16, with the perforations 18 thereof in alignment with support surface of a plate 35 for a ribbon feed and guide 36 (FIG- URE 7). The outer stop plates 32 extend parallel to the support plates 35 and are mounted on the top surface of a bar 37, mounted at its opposite ends on the plates 26 and 27. Each stop plate 32 has a slot 39 formed therein in alignment with the sheets 16 when placed in the chute 12 and moved downwardly therealong. An arm 40 of a limit switch 41 projects upwardly through the slot 39 in position to be engaged by the book or stack of sheets 16, to actuate the limit switch 41 to close said switch and start the motor 12 and thereby instigate a binding operation as the stack of sheets engages the stop plates 3 32 and 33. It will be understood from FIGURE 7 that two limit switches 41 are provided, one being beneath each stop plate 32, and that the circuit to the motor 12 is not closed until the two switch arms 40 are depressed by the stack of sheets 16 to close the two switches 41.

As shown in FIGURE 3 the arm 40 is one arm of a bell crank 42, pivoted intermediate its ends on a bracket 43, mounted on the bar 37 and having a depending arm 44 engaging the operating button for the limit switch 41.

The stop plate 33 as shown in FIGURE 7 has a slot 45 therein into which projects a right angled engaging end portion 46 of an arm 47 secured to and extending upwardly of a normally closed limit switch 49. The limit switch 49 is slidably mounted in a slide 50 mounted on a bracket member 51. The slide 50 extends parallel to the path of movement of the book or stack of sheets 16. The limit switch 49 has a yieldable switch arm 53 depending therefrom in outwardly spaced relation with respect to the body of the limit switch, and extending into position to be engaged by an actuator 54, projecting radially from a disk 55, mounted on the cam shaft 13.

The actuator 54 is so located with respect to the cams on the cam shaft 13 that it will engage the yieldable switch arm 53 and open the normally closed limit switch 49 to deenergize the motor 12, and apply the motor brake at the completion of a binding cycle. A tension spring 56 biases the limit switch 49 to position the engaging end portion 4-6 of the arm 47 through the slot 45 in the stop plate 33 above the stop plate 33. When there are no sheets in the guide chute 19 in engagement with the stop 33 the engaging end portion 46 of the arm 47 will extend through slot 45 and the switch 49 will be in its normally closed position. The arms 40 actuating the limit switches 41 will also extend through the slots 39 in the stop plates 32 and the switches 41 will be in their normally open positions. The actuator 54 will then be free to pass by the yieldable arm 53 as the limit switches 41 are closed by a stack of sheets, it being understood that the travel of the limit switch 49 is greater than the travel of the switch arms 40 required to close the switches 41 to accommodate the actuator 54 to pass by the arm 53 as the limit switches 41 are closed and an energizing circuit to the motor 12 is completed.

The ribbon 17 may be made from a thin gage heat sealable plastic material, such as, polyethylene film and is of a relatively limp or flaccid nature and carried on a spool 59. An individual ribbon is provided for each perforation in the stack of sheets 16, and the spools are rotatably carried in upwardly opening slotted portions 60 of parallel spaced dividers 61. The dividers 61 are mounted on a shelf 63 formed integral with a back wall 64 of the casing 10. The shelf 63 has an inner wall 65 extending angularly upwardly from its inner end, perpendicular to the support plates 35 and forming a support for the upper ends thereof.

The feed and guide means 36 includes a plate 67 extending parallel to the plate 35 and spaced thereabove a distance greater than the thickness of the ribbon 17. The plates 35 and 36 are suitably spaced apart along their outer sides and are supported at their discharge or lower end portions on a bar 69, mounted at its outer ends on the plates 26 and 27.

It may be seen from FIGURE 3 that the plate 67 terminates at the forward or advance face of the bar 69, and that a knife block 7 forms a forward continuation of the bottom surface of the plate 67. The knife block 70 may be secured to the bar 69 as by machine screws (not shown) and has a forward face 71, forming a surface along which cut-off knives 73 may move, to sever the ribbons threaded through the perforation 18 of the book or stack of sheets 16.

The feed and guide means for the ribbons 17 also includes a plurality of upper and lower pinch rolls 74 and 75 mounted on respective transverse shafts 76 and 77.

As shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 two feed and guide means 36 are provided and three ribbons are fed and guided by each feed and guide means. One set of pinch rolls 74 and is shown as being provided for each ribbon, and three associated pinch rolls are integrally mounted on common hubs. The pinch rolls 74 and 75 extend through slotted portions of the plates 35 and 67 to engage opposite sides of the ribbons 17 and advance the ribbons step by step along the space between the inner sides of the plates 35 and 67.

The shaft 77 carrying the lower pinch rolls 75 is journalled in the plates 26 and 27 on hearing supports 73 and 79 respectively. The shaft 77 projects outwardly of the wall 27 and has a spur gear 80 mounted on the outer end thereof meshing with a spur gear 81 on the outer end of the shaft 76 for driving the shaft 76 at the speed of rotation of the shaft 77. The spur gear 89 is driven from a spur gear 83 on a shaft 84 mounted and projecting outwardly of the plate 27. The shaft 84 has a friction wheel 85 mounted thereon inwardly of the spur gear 83 and forming a drive member for said spur gear. The friction wheel 85 is rotated step by step by a friction drive member 86 mounted on the outer end of an arm 87 extending radially of a hub 88 mounted on the outer end of the cam shaft 13 and :rot'atably driven by said cam shaft. The friction drive member 86 is thus continuously driven with the shaft 13, as the shaft rotates and engages and drives the friction wheel 85, for a portion of a cycle of rotation thereof during each revolution of the shaft 13. The travel of friction wheel 85 is sufficient to feed ribbons 17 from the spools 59, the exact lengths required to pass through the perforations of a stack of sheets and to be folded downwardly over the back edge of the stack of sheets, to bind the stack of sheets.

The upper shaft 76 is journalled at its opposite ends in arms 89 extending angularly upwardly of the shaft 76 and pivotally mounted on the outsides of the plates 26 and 27 on pivot pins 90. The arms 89 extend beyond the shaft 76 toward the ribbon folder 23. A tension spring 91 is connected to the outer ends of the arms 89 to yieldably bias the pinch rolls 74 into engagement with the pinch rolls 75.

The ribbon guides 93 are provided to enter and pass through the perforations 13 in the stack of sheets 16 into engagement with the forward ends of the plates 36 and [the blocks 70, to form continuations of the guide slots between the plates 35 and 67, and the undersurface of the blocks 70.

As shown in FIGURES 3, 6 and 7 the ribbon guides 93 include two vertically spaced relatively thin plates 94 and 95 having aligned guide fingers 97 extending therefrom, conforming to the perforations 18 of the stack of sheets, one guide finger registering with each set of pinch rolls 74 and 75. The guide fingers 97 when inserted through the perforations 18 form in effect, extensions of the guides 35 and 37 and form a smooth channel supporting the ribbon to slide through the perforations in the book. The plates 94 and 95 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a ribbon 17 and are mounted on the undersurface of a bar 99 sl-idably guided at its opposite ends in channels 100 extending along guide blocks 101, secured to the inner sides of the plates 26 and 27 and extending inwardly therefrom parallel to the plates 35 and 70 of the support and guide means 36 (FIGURE 6).

The bar 99 has two spaced generally T-shaped connectors 103, secured to the opposite side thereof from the fingers 97 and having links 104 pivotally connected thereto on pivot pins 105. The links 104 extend along opposite sides of a lever arm 106 and are pivotally connected thereto as by pivot pins 107 (FIGURES 3 and 6). The lever arm 106 is shown in FIGURE 3 as being one arm of a bell crank 109. The bell crank 109 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a shaft 110 parallel to the cam shaft 13 and positioned a substantial distance beneath the ribbon guides 93. The bell crank 109 has a second lever arm 111 having a follower 112 on the end thereof engaging the face of a cam 113 mounted on the shaft 13 and rotatably driven thereby (FIGURE 4). The faces of the cams 113 are of the same contour and are so formed as to move the fingers 97 of the ribbon guides 93 through the perforations 18 of the stack of sheets 16. The pinch rolls 74 and 75 are then operated to feed lengths of ribbon into the spaces between the fingers 97 through the perforations 18 in the book 16 and to be withdrawn from the perforations 18 after the ribbons have been advanced through said perforations, prior to operation of the cut-off knives 73, to sever the ribbons threaded through the perforations 18. A tension spring 115 is connected between the upper end of the lever 106 and a connector 11-6 on the bar 25, to bias the follower 112 into engagement with the face of the cam 113 and to project the fingers 97 through the perforations 18, as the followers 112 move to the low portions of said cams.

The cut-off knives 73 are shown in FIGURE 9 as being mounted on a bar 116 guided at its opposite ends in channels 117 formed in guide blocks 1'18, mounted on the inner sides of the side plates 26 and 27 and extending parallel to the chute 19. Connectors 119 are mounted on the bar 116 and depend therefrom and are pivotally connected to drive links 120 as by pivot pins 121. As shown in FIGURE 3 each drive link 120* has a downwardly opening guide slot 123 formed therein extending parallel to the chute 19 and the direction of travel of the knives 73 and extending along opposite sides of the cam shaft 13. Follower rollers 124 are rotatably mounted on the links 120' intermediate the ends of said links, and engage the faces of cams 125 mounted on and rotated by the cam shaft 13. The knives 73 are thus moved upwardly along the ends of the plates 35 and blocks 70 as the fol- Ilower roller 121 engages the high part of the cam. Tension spnings 122 connected between the base of the casing and the lower ends of the links 120 are provided to return the knives 73.

The ribbon folder 23 moves downwardly along the stack of sheets, as the knives 73 move upwardly to sever the ribbons and first holds the ribbons taut, to be severed by the knives 73, and then folds the severed ribbons along and beyond the edge of the stack of sheets in position for heat sealing the adjacent ends of the ribbons together.

The ribbon folder 23 comprises two parallel spaced plates 126 and 127 having outwardly flared upper end portions. The plates 126 and 127 extend the length of the chute 19 and are connected together at their outer ends in parallel spaced relation with respect to each other. The outer ends of the plates 126 and 127 are slidably guided in guide channels 129 formed in guide blocks 130 secured to inner sides of the walls 26 and 27 and extending inwardly therefrom (FIGURES 8 and 9). The guide channels 129 extend in the direction of travel of the stack of sheets as it is moved downwardly along the chute 19, to guide the ribbon folder 23 for movement toward and from said chute from a position above the guide fingers 93 downwardly beneath said guide fingers.

The plates 126 and 127 have folding tongues 131 and 132 respectively depending from the lower margins of said plates and forming downward :continuations thereof. The folding tongues 131 and 132 are in alignment with each other and are in alignment with the guide fingers 97 and support plates 35. The folding tongues 131 of the plate 126 extends downwardly a greater distance than the folding tongues 132 of the plate 127, and come into engagement with the ribbons prior to engagement of the folding tongues 132 with the ribbons and prior to severing the ribbons by the knives 73, to hold the ribbons taut during the severing operation.

Spaced cams 133 on the cam shaft 13, and rotatably driven thereby, are provided to control movement of the ribbon folder 23. As shown in FIGURE 9, the cams 133 engage follower rollers 135 mounted intermediate the ends of links 136 pivotally connected to the lower ends of connectors 137 secured to the plate 126' adjacent opposite ends thereof and depending therefrom. The links 136 are similar to the link and are slidably guided at their lower end portions on the cam shaft 13 in slots (not shown) opening to the lower ends of said links.

The contours of the cams 133 are such that the ribbon folder 23 will move downwardly as soon as the fingers 97 move out of the path of travel of said ribbon folder. The folding tongues 131 will then engage the portion of the ribbons extending through the slots 18 prior to sever ing of the ribbons. The ribbon folder 23 may then remain in this position with the tongues 132 free from the ribbons as the knives 73 are moved upwardly along the block 70 to sever the ribbons. As the ribbons are severed, the ribbon folder 23 then moves downwardly for the full length of its travel under the control of the cams 133, 133.

As the ribbon folders 23 fold the ribbon downwardly along the edge of the book, the cutoff knives 73 retract, and heat sealing jaws 139 advance toward each other and clamp and heat seal the ribbons in the form of closed loops and thereby complete the binding operation.

The heat sealing jaws 139, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, are mounted on transversely extending bars 140, 140, rockably movable toward and from each other to bring the jaws 139, 139 into clamping engagement with the free end portions of the ribbons and to retractibly move said jaws. The heat sealing jaws may have resistor heaters 141 therein energized under the control of a normally open limit switch 142 as shown in FIGURE 1. The limit switch 142 has a switch arm 143 thereon and extending therefrom and having a follower roller 144 on the end thereof. The follower roller 144 is engaged by a cam plate 146 mounted on and projecting from the periphery of the disk 55. The cam plate 145 has a sloping camming face 146 engaging the roller 1'44 and moving the switch arm 143 in a direction to close the limit switch 142, once during each cycle of rotation of the disk 55, and thereby energize the resistor heaters 141 as the heat sealing jaws 139 move toward each other to heat seal the ribbons in the forms of closed loops.

The bars 140, 149 are mounted at their opposite ends on rocker arms 147, 147, as by machine screws 148, 148 and spacers 149, 149 spacing said bars above inturned ends 150, 150 of said rocker arms (FIGURE 9).

The rocker arms 147, 147 are pivotally mounted on the insides of the plates 26 and 27 on pivot pins 151, 151. A tension spring .153 is connected between the rocker arms 1'47, 147, intermediate the ends of said rocker arms, and serves to bias the heat sealing jaws 137 into engagement with each other.

The heat sealing jaws 139, 139 are moved away from each other by operation of cams on the cam shaft 13 and engaging follower rollers 156 on the ends of lever arms 157. The lever arms 157 are pivotally mounted on an associated pivot pin 151 forming a pivotal support for the rocker arm 147, shown in FIGURE 8 as being the upper or right hand rocker arm. A tension spring 159 connected between the base 11 and the lever arm 157, adjacent its outer end portion, is provided to bias the follower roller 156 into engagement with the cam 155.

The lever arm 157 has a widened base portion 160 pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 151. The base portion 160 has diametrically opposed circumferentially extending slots 161, 161 formed therein, through which extend headed adjustment screws 162, 162 mounted on and extending outwardly of the upper or right hand rocker arm 147, the heads of said adjustment screws engage the outer sides of the associated base portion 160 and retain the lever arm 157 in fixed relation with respect to the rocker arm 147. The slots 161, 161 and adjustment screws 162, 162 enable the lever arms 157 to be centered with respect to the cams 155 and rocker arms 147, and to retain said lever arms to fixed relation with respect to the associated rocker arms 147. The rocker arms 147, 147 are connected together to effect simultaneous movement of said rocker arms in opposite directions, upon operation of the lever arm 157, by meshing gear sectors 163, 163.

In operation of device, assuming the desired number of ribbon spools 59 are mounted between the dividers 61 and ribbons 17 are trained from said spools to the pinch rolls 74 and 75 and the spaces between the plates and 67, an unbound book or stack of sheets perforated along one edge thereof is inserted in the chute 19 with the perforated edge of the book in a lowermost position. The book is then fed along the chute 19 and ribbon folder 23 into engagement with the operating arms for the limit switches 41 and into abutting engagement with the stops 32, 32 and 33. This will close the normally open limit switches 41. Engagement of the book with the engaging end 46 of the arm 47, will also slide the normally closed limit switch 49 along its guide 50 into position to bring the switch arm 53 in position to be engaged by the actuator 54, at the termination of a binding operation. Closing the limit switches 41, 41 will energize the motor 12 through a conductor 164, and a conductor 165 connected with said motor through the limit switches 41, 41 and 49.

The binding cycle will then start and the fingers 97, 97 of the ribbon guides 93, 93 will advance through the perforated slots 18 in the book or stack of sheets 16. The pinch rolls 74 and 75 will also be rotatably driven to feed the ribbons along spaces between the plates 35 and 67 and along the guide fingers 97, 97 of the ribbon guides 93. The ribbon guides 93, 93 will then retractibly move with respect to the perforations 18, 13 in the book 16 after the ribbons have advanced through the perforations 18, 18 of the book. The cutoff knives 73, 73 will then advance upwardly to sever the ribbons, and at the same time the ribbon folder 23 will start its downward travel and the tongues 131, 131 of said ribbon folder will engage and clamp the leading end portions of the ribbons, holding the ribbons to the perforations 13, 13 as the knives 73, 73 sever the ribbons.

The knives 73, 73 will then retractibly, move and the ribbon folder 23 will continue its downward movement along the book and fold the ribbons around the edge of the book.

The tension springs 153 will then move the heat sealing jaws 139, 139 towards each other under control of the cams 155, 155 into clamping engagement with the ribbons folded around the edge of the book. As the heat sealing jaws advance toward each other, the cam plate will engage the follower roller 144 and close the normally open limit switch 142, to energize the resistor heaters 141 in the heat sealing bars 139. This will seal the ribbons in the forms of closed loops. The cams 155, will then operate the lever arms 157, 157 to retractibly move the heat sealing bars 139, 139. The actuator plate 54 will then engage the switch arm 53 for the limit switch 49 and open said limit switch and deenergize the motor 12. The binding operation will then stop and the bound book may be removed from the guide chute 19.

It should be understood that the motor 12 is described as being a magnetic braking type of motor in which the brake is released as the motor is energized, and is applied as the motor is deenergized by opening of the normally closed limit switch 49, by operation of the actuator 54 at termination of the binding operation. A one revolution clutch may be used instead of the magnetically braked motor and that various other conventional arrangements may be provided to stop rotation of the cam shaft 13 as soon as the binding operation is completed.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it may be readily understood that various variations and modifications in the invention may be attained without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof as defined by the claims appended hereto.

I claim as my invention: 1. In an apparatus for binding a stack of sheets having at least one perforation therein adjacent an edge thereof, feed and guide means for a ribbon of heat scalable material,

a guide chute for a stack of sheets extending at right angles to said feed and guide means, stop means spaced from said guide chute and operable to align the perforation with the ribbon feed and guide means,

a ribbon guide extensibly movable through the perforation into juxtaposition with said ribbon feed and guide means, for guiding a ribbon to be threaded through said perforation,

said ribbon guide being retractible from said perforation after the ribbon has advanced therealong through the perforation to release the leading end of the ribbon and thereby complete the threading of the ribbon through the stack of sheets,

a cut-oft" knife movable along the discharge end of said feed and guide means for severing the ribbon,

a ribbon folder forming a continuation of said chute and spaced between the end of said chute and said feed and guide means and movable along the stack of sheets toward said stop to first clamp the ribbon for severing and to then fold the ribbon along opposite sides of the stack of sheets to extend beyond the edge thereof,

and heat sealing means disposed beneath said stop and clamping the adjacent ends of the ribbon together and sealing the ends of the ribbon by heat.

2. In an apparatus for binding a stack of sheets having at least one perforation therein, adjacent an edge thereof,

a generally vertically extending guide chute for a stack of sheets,

a pair of pinch rolls spaced beneath said chute and guide means leading therefrom,

a stop spaced beneath said guide means and limiting movement of the stack of sheets to register the perforation in the stack of sheets with said guide means,

a ribbon guide on the opposite side of the chute from said pinch rolls and guide means and in alignment with the perforation in the stack of sheets upon engagement of the stack of sheets with said stop,

means for rotatably driving said pinch rolls, means for projecting said ribbon guide through the perforation in the stack of sheets to a position adjacent said guide means for guiding a ribbon fed by said pinch rolls through said perforation,

said means also retractibly moving said ribbon guide with respect to the perforation and releasing the portion of the ribbon threaded through the perforation,

a cut-off on the same side of said chute as said pinch rolls,

means for vertically moving said cut-off to effect severing of the ribbon to length,

a ribbon folder spaced beneath said chute and in alignment therewith and movable downwardly along the stack of sheets beneath said ribbon guide and pinch rolls to first clamp the ribbon during the cut-off operation and to then fold the ribbon around the edge of the stack of sheets,

heat sealing jaws mounted for movement into engagement with the free ends of the ribbon folded around the edge of the stack of sheets for clamping the free ends of the ribbon together and sealing the ribbon in the form of a closed loop,

and means for moving said heat sealing jaws in clamping and release directions.

3. In an apparatus for binding a stack of sheets having at least one perforation therein, adjacent an edge thereof,

a generally vertically extending guide chute for a stack of sheets,

a ribbon guide spaced beneath said guide chute and on one side thereof and mounted for movement toward and from the stack of sheets,

a stop spaced beneath said ribbon guide and locating the perforation in the stack of sheets in alignment with said ribbon guide and accommodating the projection of said ribbon guide through the perforation,

pinch rolls and guide means leading therefrom on the opposite side of the stack of sheets from said ribbon guide and feeding a ribbon along said guide means and ribbon guide through the perforation in the stack of sheets,

at least one perforation, a motor, a shaft driven by said motor,

a guide chute guiding a stack of sheets for binding,

a stop spaced beneath said guide chute and limiting movement of the stack of sheets into a binding POSI- tion,

a ribbon folder in alignment with said guide chute and mechanism driven by said shaft for threading a ribbon extending along opposite sides of the stack of sheets through said perforation, and disposed above said ribbon guide and movable h lding the ribbon taut for severing, along the stack of sheets beneath said ribbon guide severing the ribbon and heat sealing the ends of the for folding the ribbon around the edge of the stack of ribbon, sheets, a normally open limit switch having a switch arm in a cut-off knife movable to sever the ribbon held to the association Wtih Said p means and extending from stack of sheets by said ribbon folder, said stop means toward said chute, heat sealing jaws clamping the free ends of the ribbon to be engaged y the stack of Sheets and efiect together and sealing the ribbon i th f f a gization of said motor and the initiation of a binding closed loop, a motor, operation when the stack of sheets is in a binding a shaft driven by id motor, position in engagement with said stop means, a plurality of cams on said haft, a normally closed limit switch beneath said chute and individual drive connections from said cams to said mounted Slidfible movement toward and from ribbon guide, said chute, spring means biasing said switch toward said ribbon folder, said stop, Said cut- 1f k if d id h li j f ff ta switch actuator on said shaft and rotatable therewith, ing operation thereof in a preselected sequence and movement of stack of Sheets Into engagFmFnt w a cyclic step up drive connection from said shaft to Said P movlng 1 my closfid llmlt Switch said pinch rolls for driving said pinch rolls distances Into Operailve association Wlth actuaiPr tO be sufficient to thread the ribbon through said ribbon actuated thereby and Open the clrcult to said motol' guide during each cycle of rotation of said shaft. 4. In an apparatus for binding a stack of sheets having at the completion of a binding cycle. 6. An apparatus for binding a stack of sheets each perforated at a multiplicity of spaced points along one at least one perforation therein, adjacent an edge thereof,

edge thereof,

a generally vertically extending guide chute for a stack f sheets comprising a casing,

a ribbon guide spaced beneath said guide chute on one gulde Fhute 9 9 on Wall of Sa 1d casing i side thereof and mounted for extensible movement extendmg Wlthm Sald casmg Perpendlcular to Sald toward and beyond a stack of sheets in said guide Wall chute, means limitlng movement of the stack of sheets along a pinch rolls and guide means leading therefrom on 40 sald gmde chute.m a bmdmg posltfon the Opposite side of the stack of sheets from Said ribbon feed and guide means on one side of sa d chute, ribbon guide and in alignment therewith extending parallel to said wall and spaced inwardly a Stop Spaced beneath Said ribbon guide and pinch from said wall in centered relation with respect to rolls and registering the perforation with said ribbon i ff i 1n.the sheets when i guide to accommodate the projection of said ribbon lflggosmon m Said chute m engagement wlth Bald guide through the perforation to guide a ribbon fed lfmmng m by Said pinch Tons through the perforation a ribbon guide on the opposite side of said chute from a ribbon folder in alignment with said chute between i feed and glilde mails q mifludmg spaced the bottom of said chute and said ribbon guide and gllldc fingers Projectable a .du'eciwn parallel to slidable along the stack of sheets beneath the path Sald t thfough perfqatloils 1n the of travel of said ribbon guide to first hold the ribbon Sheets feed and gtllde taut for severing and then fold the ribbon along the means for guldmg nbbons through the perfomnons stack of sheets to project from the edge thereof, m the Stack of P a cut-off knife spaced beneath said ribbon guide and means engagmg the nkibon and holdmg. the {lbbon taut 50 for cut-off upon withdrawal of said guide fingers movable vertically to sever the ribbon held to the stack of sheets by said ribbon folder,

heat sealing jaws spaced beneath said ribbon guide and ribbon folder,

clamping the free ends of the ribbon together and heat sealing the ribbon in the form of a closed loop,

a motor,

a shaft driven by said motor,

a plurality of cams on said shaft,

and individual drive connections from said cams to forated at a multiplicity of spaced points along one edge thereof,

comprising a casing, a guide chute mounted on a wall of said casing and extending within said casing perpendicular to said said ribbon uide Wall Said ribbon fofder, means limiting movement of stack of sheets along said said cut-off knife and said heat sealing jaws to effect guide chute m ab.mdmg posmon the sequential operation thereof in the order named, nbbon feed and gulde f on one slde of W chute a cyclic step up drive connection from said shaft to extendmg P sald wan i Spaced mwardly said pinch rolls for driving said pinch rolls distances from Said wall In centered relatlon Wlth respect to fli i to thread the ribbon through Said ribbon the perforations in the stack of sheets when in a bindguide during each cycle of rotation of said shaft, ing Position in Said Chute in engagfiment With Said and a normally open switch in association with said limiting means,

stop and engaged by the stack of sheets upon the a ribbon guide on the opposite side of said chute from engagement of the stack of sheets with said stop for said feed and guide means and including spaced guide 1 1 fingers projectable in a direction parallel to said wall through the perforations in the stack of sheets into juxtaposition with said feed and guide means for guiding ribbons through the perforations in the stack of sheets,

a ribbon cut-off cutting off the threaded ribbons,

a ribbon folder movable along the stack of sheets for first engaging the ribbons and maintaining the ribbons taut during the cut-off operation and then folding the ribbons to depend from the edge of the stack 10 of sheets,

and heat sealing jaws beneath said ribbon folder engaging opposite sides of the depending end portions of the ribbons and clamping the depending end portions of the ribbons together and sealing the ribbons in the form of closed loops.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,200,877 Farkas May 14, 1940 2,571,525 Buttstein Oct. 16, 1951 3,038,180 Levitan June 12, 1962 3,038,181 Nadherny June 12, 1962 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR BINDING A STACK OF SHEETS HAVING AT LEAST ONE PERFORATION THEREIN ADJACENT AN EDGE THEREOF, FEED AND GUIDE MEANS FOR A RIBBON OF HEAT SEALABLE MATERIAL, A GUIDE CHUTE FOR A STACK OF SHEETS EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID FEED AND GUIDE MEANS, STOP MEANS SPACED FROM SAID GUIDE CHUTE AND OPERABLE TO ALIGN THE PERFORATION WITH THE RIBBON FEED AND GUIDE MEANS, A RIBBON GUIDE EXTENSIBLY MOVABLE THROUGH THE PERFORATION INTO JUXTAPOSITION WITH SAID RIBBON FEED AND GUIDE MEANS, FOR GUIDING A RIBBON TO BE THREADED THROUGH SAID PERFORATION, SAID RIBBON GUIDE BEING RETRACTIBLE FROM SAID PERFORATION AFTER THE RIBBON HAS ADVANCED THEREALONG THROUGH THE PERFORATION TO RELEASE THE LEADING END OF THE RIBBON AND THEREBY COMPLETE THE THREADING OF THE RIBBON THROUGH THE STACK OF SHEETS, A CUT-OFF KNIFE MOVABLE ALONG THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID FEED AND GUIDE MEANS FOR SEVERING THE RIBBON, A RIBBON FOLDER FORMING A CONTINUATION OF SAID CHUTE AND SPACED BETWEEN THE END OF SAID CHUTE AND SAID FEED AND GUIDE MEANS AND MOVABLE ALONG THE STACK OF SHEETS TOWARD SAID STOP TO FIRST CLAMP THE RIBBON FOR SEVERING AND TO THEN FOLD THE RIBBON ALONG OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE STACK OF SHEETS TO EXTEND BEYOND THE EDGE THEREOF, AND HEAT SEALING MEANS DISPOSED BENEATH SAID STOP AND CLAMPING THE ADJACENT ENDS OF THE RIBBON TOGETHER AND SEALING THE ENDS OF THE RIBBON BY HEAT. 